Breaking Property News 21/11/25
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VE+ the new procurement engine cutting developers costs without compromise
Finishes packages are specification sensitive and expensive components of any build – VE+ fixes this
As construction costs continue to climb and procurement timelines tighten, developers and contractors are being pushed harder than ever to deliver more for less. Finishes packages, flooring, tiles, wall coverings, fabrics and decorative materials, remain some of the most specification-sensitive and expensive components of any build. Yet they also present one of the industry’s biggest untapped opportunities for cost optimisation.
This is where VE+, a new procurement service focused on like-for-like alternatives, is leveraging technology to give its client clear marketplace oversight.
VE+ a Smarter Approach to Value Engineering
Traditional value engineering has long carried a stigma as savings typically come at the expense of design intent, material quality, or long-term performance. VE+ flips that model on its head.
Rather than substituting premium finishes with cheaper, inferior products, VE+ uses a sophisticated blend of technical expertise, AI-driven search, and data from more than 100,000 product SKUs to identify fully compliant, visually equivalent and technically matching alternatives from over 100 trusted UK suppliers.
Clients simply share their finishes specification, and VE+ produces a verified like-for-like analysis on a no win, no fees basis. Included is a full comparison report, with ready to procure quotes and clear savings, typically around 20% per specification
As Noam Naveh CEO of VE+, explains, ‘There’s a misconception that saving on finishes means compromising on quality or design. It doesn’t. The market is full of equivalent products; the challenge has always been finding them efficiently. That’s exactly what VE+ is built to solve.’
Case Study: Karrada Developments achieve 24% savings in three days
A recent project at the Central Park Hotel in London showcases how rapidly VE+ can deliver measurable impact. Main contractor Karrada Developments was progressing with the finishes package when the client requested a review to identify potential cost reductions.
With the project already underway and procurement windows narrowing, the contractor needed fast, reliable, specification-safe alternatives. VE+ stepped in — and within three days, they delivered fully verified options that maintained design intent while reducing cost pressure.
Which resulted in a 24% average margin saved, in a 3-day turnaround, with almost £22,000 total savings on the package
Example: Bedroom Flooring Optimisation
One of the main target areas was the bedroom flooring specification.
The original design called for Parky Silk Oak Premium Plank by Decospan — a high-quality commercial-grade engineered wood product. VE+ analysed the required properties, including:
- Warm tone
- Brushed finish
- Commercial wear layer
- WoodClick installation system
They then sourced two compliant alternatives from Kährs and Bjelin. The selected alternative — Kährs Oak Ginger Plank — delivered a 28.6% saving, reducing costs from £42,000 to £29,976, while maintaining the technical and visual characteristics of the original specification.
Key comparison:
- Original spec cost: £42,000
- Selected VE+ alternative: £29,976
- Saving: £12,024 (28.63%)
Nothing about the look, feel, or performance of the flooring was compromised.
Outcome and savings without disruption
All VE+ recommendations were approved and integrated directly into the procurement package. The entire process required no additional tools, no subscriptions, no new systems, and no redesign effort from the contractor or the client.
VE+ provided a clear, ready-to-action comparison sheet formatted for immediate procurement, enabling Karrada Developments to reduce costs while keeping the project on schedule.
A new standard for finishes procurement
As budgets continue to tighten across UK development, VE+ is emerging as a strategic solution capable of delivering material-true alternatives, faster procurement workflows, reduced supply-chain risk, transparent cost efficiency and Protection of original design intent
Andrew Stanton Analysis
For an industry long frustrated by the blunt nature of traditional value engineering, VE+ offers something refreshingly aligned with modern construction: precision, transparency, and design-first cost control.
Adoption of VE+ is simple, the construction industry is still analogue and paper led in nature, and CEO Noam Naveh understands this so his approach means his clients only have to quote what they need, and all the AI, and digital services remain outside the company. There are no platforms, dashboards or a monthly Saas payment, instead it is a pay as you use service on a no win no fee basis with zero risk for users.
It focuses on maintaining the required quality and performance while removing unnecessary costs. The whole service wraps itself around understanding the function of the material and what performance and compliance standards are needed. Then identifying cost drivers and removing expensive and inefficient alternatives.
By reviewing the market for the best options that meet the same functional requirements, perform equally well, cost less and are easier to procure to reduce installation time. The golden thread that weaves VE+ altogether is ensuring that the alternative finish does not compromise, safety, durability, compliance, design intent, long term performance and so enhances the reputation of the end user client.
With its data network and supplier pool growing weekly, VE+ is positioning itself as an essential tool for contractors and developers looking to optimise finishes packages without compromising quality or aesthetics.
Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X
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